A Bangladesh Pupil Was Burned To Loss of life For Reporting Sexual Harassment

Nusrat Jahan Rafi, an 18-year-old scholar finding out at a madrasa, or Islamic college, in Feni, went to the police on March 27 to file a report in opposition to her principal for allegedly sexually harassing her.

Rafi stated the principal, Maulana Siraj Ud Doula, had referred to as her into his workplace and repeatedly touched her inappropriately.

She additionally stated that she had been repeatedly sexually harassed by Ud Doula, however had been informed to maintain it quiet when she tried to carry it up along with her lecturers.

Her assertion was filmed with out her consent by the police officer, who later posted it on social media, which is against the law, the Day by day Star reported.

Within the video, which was later leaked to native media, Rafi will be seen crying, visibly distressed, and making an attempt to cover her face along with her palms.

The police officer is heard saying it is “not an enormous deal” and telling her to “transfer your palms from the face, cease crying, nothing occurred that you need to cry.”

After she filed her report, Ud Doula was arrested, however Rafi and her household reportedly began receiving loss of life threats from the principal’s supporters.

Male college students additionally organized protests to demand Ud Doula’s launch, which have been attended by native politicians, in response to the BBC.

On April 6, Rafi was tricked into going to the roof of a college constructing, the place not less than 4 unidentified folks doused her in kerosene and set her on hearth.

Police stated that the attackers, who have been wearing burqas and had their faces principally lined, had tried to stress Rafi to withdraw her criticism in opposition to Ud Doula and lit her on hearth when she refused.

After the attackers fled the scene, Rafi ran down the steps screaming for assist whereas her whole physique was in flames, her older brother informed the Day by day Star.

She was taken to a neighborhood hospital, however was transferred to Dhaka Medical School Hospital after medical doctors found she had suffered burns to 80% of her physique.

On April 10, she died.

Relations, kin, and villagers broke down when her physique was returned to her house, and her two brothers fainted.

Rafi’s story sparked outrage throughout the nation, and hundreds of individuals turned up for her funeral.

Individuals have been outraged by the information.

They’re additionally demanding justice on social media with the hashtag #JusticeForNusrat.

The prime minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina Wazed, has vowed to carry each individual concerned with the homicide to justice.

“Not one of the culprits might be spared from authorized motion,” she stated.

As of Monday, police have detained 14 folks in reference to the homicide.

Police say that the 4 attackers have been college students of the madrasa and included one feminine scholar.

Nuruddin and Shahadat alias Shamim, the 2 primary suspects who have been the principal’s aides and graduates of the madrasa, reportedly confessed on Sunday that they deliberate the homicide with 5 different college students, after visiting Ud Doula in jail.

The 2 have been additionally answerable for organizing the protests demanding Ud Doula’s launch, in response to the Day by day Star.

A 3rd scholar confessed his involvement on Thursday, saying that the homicide had been carried out underneath the route of Ud Doula, who allegedly gave them directions from jail.

Police have additionally launched an investigation into their very own dealing with of Rafi’s case and whether or not there had been any negligence on the a part of the officers earlier than and after the assault, BDNews24 reported.

In the meantime, the officer who filmed the video of Rafi has reportedly been transferred for his alleged negligence in stopping her homicide and can also be being sued for violating the Digital Safety Act by sharing the video on social media.